Professor Zoe Winters - Breast Cancer Consultant & Breast Specialist

24/07/2025

Outstanding clinical trial results in metastatic and advanced oestrogen positive (ER+) HER2 negative breast cancers that shows prolonged progression free survival.

ASCO 2025 New drug target for metastatic / advanced Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer

INAVO Phase III International randomised double -blind placebo-controlled trial

Metastatic and advanced hormone receptor positive (HR+) HER2 negative breast cancers acquire treatment resistance to endocrine treatments such as: Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor or CDKI (Palbociclib) and Faslodex (selective oestrogen receptor degrader or SERD).

Circulating cancer DNA or tissue DNA is used to measure a key treatment target called a PIK3CA mutation that occurs in 40% of patients.

Inavolisib targets PIK3CA to produce significant increases in cancer Progression Free Survival from 7 months (placebo) to 17 months (Inavolisib) over 34 months, when combined with Palbociclib and Faslodex.

Objective cancer response rates are significantly higher from 28% (placebo) to
63% (Inavolisib), with a duration of response from 11 months (placebo) to 19 months (Inavolisib).

See link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39476340/

In patients with PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, inavolisib plus palbociclib-fulvestrant led to significantly longer progression-free survival than placebo plus palbociclib-fulvestrant, with a greater incidence of toxic ef...

17/07/2025

HRT and Breast Cancer Risks explained.

Body and bio-identical combined HRT use over 5 years is likely to increase breast cancer risks slightly (1 extra cancer in 100 women).

We are awaiting data on the specific risks in large numbers of women that will provide greater reassurance for women who wish to use HRT for 10 years or more.

Specialist breast care and regular screening is important in all women, and should be discussed with your specialist.

Modern HRT should comprise body & bio identical types with optimal administration in the context of individual breast cancer risks.

17/07/2025

Honoured to be awarded the badge 'great patient experience' from Doctify.

😀 🎗

01/07/2025

The power of translational medicine "from bench to bedside" at ASCO 2025 is shown by measuring circulating tumour DNA in blood that detects breast cancer mutations in women with advanced metastatic oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) and HER2 negative (0) breast cancer.

Women taking aromatase inhibitors and a CDK4/6 inhibitor can develop an early mutation of the oestrogen receptor called ESR1, which is detected in blood about 21 months after starting treatment. This occured before any clinical evidence of cancer progression on imaging.

The SERENA-6 trial shows significant progression-free survival benefits in women who then received a next generation drug called Camizestrant that degrades and totally blocks the oestrogen receptor called a SERD (Selective Oestrogen Receptor Degrader). Camizestrant treats ESR1 mutated cancers more effectively than an aromatase inhibitor or faslodex combined with CDK4/6 inhibitors.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40454637/

17/06/2025

Important facts for young women (less than and equal to 50 years of age), who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Part 1.

03/06/2025

Reporting individual women's mammogram breast tissue density score; either a C or D (BIRADS A-D), therefore "dense" mandates additional breast screening tests and should be practised throughout the UK.

https://londonbreasthealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Daily-Mail-1625-Density.pdf
DenseBreast-info, Inc.

The Mail on Sunday was among the first to raise the alarm over the NHS's outdated breast cancer screening practice. Now, a landmark study has found the programme needs urgent reform.

12/05/2025

Today is International Nurses' Day.

We as clinicians, could not do our job without you.
Patients would not receive the required care, without you.

Today is your day, and you deserve this day. 😍 💙

The Lister Hospital

21/04/2025

DENSE BREAST NEWS

I wholeheartedly endorse the below news published in the BMJ, and look forward to this becoming the norm in the UK.

From the BMJ article..... Women in the US attending mammography services must be told whether they have dense breast tissue, which can make it harder to detect breast cancer and may require further tests, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ruled.

Dense breasts are common, but they can be detected only by mammogram. The US National Cancer Institute says, “Nearly half of all women who are 40 and older who get mammograms are found to have dense breast tissue.”

Dense breast tissue assessed on a mammogram makes it more difficult to find a cancer, and also increases individual breast cancer risks. In these women, other imaging tests may help find cancers, such as bilateral breast ultrasound and in some cases a breast MRI.

Full article... Link: https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q2045


DenseBreast-info, Inc.

01/04/2025

An expert explains.

28/03/2025

An important question - Can most post-menopausal women avoid axillary surgery like a sentinel lymph node biopsy?

Recent news from San Antonio Breast Cancer meeting December 2024 answers this question.

21/03/2025

Delighted to be awarded the Certificate of Excellence for the 5th year in a row.

22/10/2024

What does it mean to have a change in breast size - part 2 - Shrinkage (decrease in size)

Abnormal breast shrinkage, is persistent and becomes more noticeable over time. This may also be accompanied by other persistent abnormalities such as skin and/or ni**le changes, ni**le discharge, breast lump, or a swollen armpit (axilla), with lumps or enlarged lymph nodes.

The feel of the breast tissue may feel firmer, with decreased elasticity when you depress the tissue. These changes are concerning as they reflect scarring (fibrosis) of breast tissue secondary to a diffuse or large cancer.

Persistent breast shrinkage is rare, and is usually associated with abnormal breast skin changes in keeping with aggressive cancers that are locally advanced.

Symptoms of the above nature must be reviewed by a Breast Specialist